Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I found out my hormone levels today for my one year checkup (I got the results earlier than expected)...and I'm not sure if I should freak out, cry, worry, or what I should do.
at 6 months I started progesterone, and had like 2 weeks I freaked out about it.
back then my T level was 7ng/ml and my E level was 114pg/ml
now my T level is 7ng/ml and my E level is 81pg/ml.

While the 81pg/ml is still a female range and normal, that concerns me and makes me worry because, well that's lower than at 6 months. It is a trough level measurement for both of them, but that just, it makes me wonder if there was some other factor like stress or the addition of progesterone, or what. when I'm at the doctor I'll probably ask to increase my estrogen if that's a good idea, but right now I'm really not sure how to interpret the information because well yeah....

I'd say depending on how you're taking your estrogen, your levels will vary.

Several months back I went to my Dr. and she doubled my Estradiol to a "normal" trans-woman dosage as I'd only started Estradiol a few months before that. After I met with her I got a blood test to see where my levels were at. A week later my results came back and I was at 440 pg/ml. She called me to tell me to go back down to the dosage I was taking before, as the 440 was the level I was at just taking the half normal dosage.
About 3 months later I get my levels tested again and I'm at 33 pg/ml! So of course she calls me and tells me to double it again.
Here's the thing. I take it sublingually, once in the morning between 8-9am and once in the evening 8-9pm.
When my E was tested as high, my blood was drawn around 10am. (1-2 hours after dosing)
When my E was tested as low, it was around 3:30pm. (7-8 hours after dosing)

I believe the E level spikes right after you take it (especially sublingually) and tapers down as your body starts to absorb it... hence the stark difference between my levels.

I make sure my appointments are in the afternoon now, since I don't trust the test results only a couple hours after dosing.

Something to consider when you're interpreting your levels.

Quote from: LexiDreamer on February 28, 2017, 12:38:59 PM
I'd say depending on how you're taking your estrogen, your levels will vary.

Several months back I went to my Dr. and she doubled my Estradiol to a "normal" trans-woman dosage as I'd only started Estradiol a few months before that. After I met with her I got a blood test to see where my levels were at. A week later my results came back and I was at 440 pg/ml. She called me to tell me to go back down to the dosage I was taking before, as the 440 was the level I was at just taking the half normal dosage.
About 3 months later I get my levels tested again and I'm at 33 pg/ml! So of course she calls me and tells me to double it again.
Here's the thing. I take it sublingually, once in the morning between 8-9am and once in the evening 8-9pm.
When my E was tested as high, my blood was drawn around 10am. (1-2 hours after dosing)
When my E was tested as low, it was around 3:30pm. (7-8 hours after dosing)

I believe the E level spikes right after you take it (especially sublingually) and tapers down as your body starts to absorb it... hence the stark difference between my levels.

I make sure my appointments are in the afternoon now, since I don't trust the test results only a couple hours after dosing.

Something to consider when you're interpreting your levels.

I'm told not to take my morning dose until after my blood is drawn because they want the trough level, so it's usually about 12 hours after my last dose o.o

Quote from: link5019 on February 28, 2017, 12:55:56 PM
I'm told not to take my morning dose until after my blood is drawn because they want the trough level, so it's usually about 12 hours after my last dose o.o

That's interesting. I was given no such advice. It makes sense though.

Is that just for your Estradiol, or did they tell you not to take your Spiro either?

Estradiol has a very short half life in the body when you take it the way you do. After a dosage, your levels could be 1000 pg/ml and most of the 12 hours you could be 200 pg/ml or better. If you vary the length of time between the last dosage and the test by an hour or two, you will see noticeable differences in the test results. If you are on the suggested dosage, it appears your levels should be sufficient for good development.

Quote from: LexiDreamer on February 28, 2017, 03:42:24 PM
That's interesting. I was given no such advice. It makes sense though.

Is that just for your Estradiol, or did they tell you not to take your Spiro either?

They told me not to take my Estradiol or Spiro until after my blood is drawn. They wanted to get my trough levels. But my T level did not change at all so it was the same 6 months ago as it was today.

Quote from: Dena on February 28, 2017, 03:49:46 PM
Estradiol has a very short half life in the body when you take it the way you do. After a dosage, your levels could be 1000 pg/ml and most of the 12 hours you could be 200 pg/ml or better. If you vary the length of time between the last dosage and the test by an hour or two, you will see noticeable differences in the test results. If you are on the suggested dosage, it appears your levels should be sufficient for good development.

That is true the short half live. I take it via a pill form, half of my daily dose in the morning and the other half at night. I don't know what my peak level is, only the trough level, but I made sure to take my blood test roughly around the same time as I did last time, so it should not have varied from 114 to 81, but other factors like stress being sick, etc.

Quote from: link5019 on February 28, 2017, 10:35:58 AM
So I found out my hormone levels today for my one year checkup (I got the results earlier than expected)...and I'm not sure if I should freak out, cry, worry, or what I should do.
at 6 months I started progesterone, and had like 2 weeks I freaked out about it.
back then my T level was 7ng/ml and my E level was 114pg/ml
now my T level is 7ng/ml and my E level is 81pg/ml.

While the 81pg/ml is still a female range and normal, that concerns me and makes me worry because, well that's lower than at 6 months. It is a trough level measurement for both of them, but that just, it makes me wonder if there was some other factor like stress or the addition of progesterone, or what. when I'm at the doctor I'll probably ask to increase my estrogen if that's a good idea, but right now I'm really not sure how to interpret the information because well yeah....

Estradiol levels will fluctuate even if taken at the same time, even with oral, so I would really not be concerned. The important thing to focus on is how you feel and your overall feminization. If your breasts are growing and all other things are good, then what's the concern for? Isn't that what really matters after all?

Also, T is ng/dl not ng/ml. :)

Progesterone can, however, reduce estradiol levels because it increases the rate at which it converts to estrone, a weaker estrogen but so what? Do you feel good since progesterone? Has it impacted feminization negatively? These are the questions, I think, you should really ask yourself.

I'm no doctor, just my 2 cents. ;)

Quote from: KayXo on February 28, 2017, 08:01:11 PM
Estradiol levels will fluctuate even if taken at the same time, even with oral, so I would really not be concerned. The important thing to focus on is how you feel and your overall feminization. If your breasts are growing and all other things are good, then what's the concern for? Isn't that what really matters after all?

Also, T is ng/dl not ng/ml. :)

Progesterone can, however, reduce estradiol levels because it increases the rate at which it converts to estrone, a weaker estrogen but so what? Do you feel good since progesterone? Has it impacted feminization negatively? These are the questions, I think, you should really ask yourself.

I'm no doctor, just my 2 cents. ;)

Lol with progesterone, It has, I feel had a positive effect, at least on my boobs XD. And true I was feeling fine before I found out my blood levels, but since I didn't increase my estrogen intake  when I started progesterone, that may have caused the lower levels. My boobs are growing but I swear that it feels like it's slowed down a bit now that I'm close a year, and either that's because of well that just happens over time, or the lower E level because of the progesterone, idk.

link 5019,

If you have been on HRT for less than a year, your boobs are just now beginning to develop. Be patient, after about 3 or 4 years you will be fully developed.

Blood levels are not that important. They are just a guide to help your doctor adjust your HRT dosage.

The only way to get instant boobs is with surgical implants.

Quote from: Dani on March 01, 2017, 07:19:11 PM
link 5019,

If you have been on HRT for less than a year, your boobs are just now beginning to develop. Be patient, after about 3 or 4 years you will be fully developed.

Blood levels are not that important. They are just a guide to help your doctor adjust your HRT dosage.

The only way to get instant boobs is with surgical implants.

I've been on HRT for a year when I hit next week ^_^ and well I am very happy with my 36D I have (and I can tell in a few months I'll need the next size up lol). I thought the blood levels were important, but I've never looked at it that way. And I really don't want implants and don't think I'll need them lol

Quote from: link5019 on March 02, 2017, 03:28:57 AM
I've been on HRT for a year when I hit next week ^_^ and well I am very happy with my 36D I have (and I can tell in a few months I'll need the next size up lol). I thought the blood levels were important, but I've never looked at it that way. And I really don't want implants and don't think I'll need them lol

Just out of curiosity, what size were they before HRT?
36D sounds like an awful lot of growth for one year.

Quote from: LexiDreamer on March 02, 2017, 09:18:11 AM
Just out of curiosity, what size were they before HRT?
36D sounds like an awful lot of growth for one year.

I was flat chested pre-hrt. Idk if that's an issue, or if that means something else like having massive boobs I'll have to have a reduction in a few years but yeah I'm a 36D. My family typically has DD - E cups and well I'm still at a point in my development where I'm just starting to round out. but I fill a 36D completely. And here is proof (and yes they are all pictures where I'm clothes). http://imgur.com/a/JTEHT

Quote from: link5019 on March 02, 2017, 11:21:36 AM
I was flat chested pre-hrt. Idk if that's an issue, or if that means something else like having massive boobs I'll have to have a reduction in a few years but yeah I'm a 36D. My family typically has DD - E cups and well I'm still at a point in my development where I'm just starting to round out. but I fill a 36D completely. And here is proof (and yes they are all pictures where I'm clothes). http://imgur.com/a/JTEHT

Wow! That's amazing!
I wasn't necessarily doubting you, I just have some trans friends that had boobies before HRT.
I guess it really just comes down to genetics.
You are blessed!
I'm jealous. :)

Quote from: LexiDreamer on March 02, 2017, 11:57:14 AM
Wow! That's amazing!
I wasn't necessarily doubting you, I just have some trans friends that had boobies before HRT.
I guess it really just comes down to genetics.
You are blessed!
I'm jealous. :)

lol thank yous, and I didn't think you doubted me I just wanted to show for sake of showing lol. And yeah it really dose come down to genetics. I do joke a lot about at the end of this I'll need a reduction with how fast I've been growing lol. I don't think I would get a reduction though. I honestly hate how they are still slightly conical and are slowly filling out but its a multi year process so, I'll probably hit a DD and eventually an E at some point lol XD and aww hugs